Water barrel: two weeks of water in one blue drum
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Quick answer
A 55-gallon drinking-water barrel is the simplest way to reach CDC's 2-week goal. At 1 gallon per person per day it lasts a family of four 13.75 days, or one person 55 days. Full, it weighs about 458 lb (55 gallons at 8.33 lb each), so fill it where it will stay. You also need a bung wrench to open the caps and a pump kept only for drinking water. CDC says to replace self-filled water every 6 months, even though some water preservers claim 5 years.
What one barrel covers
CDC asks for at least 1 gallon per person per day, for at least 3 days and ideally 2 weeks. Here is what 55 gallons covers at that rate:
| Household | Days from one 55 gal barrel | Barrels for 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 55 | 1 (14 gal needed) |
| 2 people | 27.5 | 1 (28 gal needed) |
| 4 people | 13.75 | 2 (56 gal needed) |
| 6 people | 9.2 | 2 (84 gal needed) |
CDC suggests storing more for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets and hot climates, so round up. A family of four is 1 gallon short of a full two weeks with one barrel (56 needed against 55 stored).
Weight and placement
USGS lists water at 8.33 pounds per gallon, so a full 55-gallon barrel holds about 458 lb of water before counting the barrel itself. That has practical consequences:
- Fill it in place. At that weight, set the barrel where it will live before you fill it.
- Pick a cool, dark spot. CDC says to keep stored water at 50 to 70°F and out of direct sunlight.
- Keep it away from fuel and chemicals. CDC says to store water away from toxic substances such as gasoline and pesticides, which rules out sharing a corner with gas cans.
- Leave room to work. You need space above the bung to fit a pump and room beside it for a bucket.
Fill it the CDC way
Use a barrel sold as food-grade for drinking water; CDC says to ask the maker if you are unsure, and never to use a container that held toxic chemicals. Then follow CDC's steps:
- Wash the inside with soap and rinse.
- Sanitize with 1 teaspoon of unscented 5% to 9% bleach per quart of water, cap and shake so it reaches every surface.
- Wait at least 30 seconds, drain and let it air-dry.
- Fill with clean tap water and cap tightly.
- Label it "drinking water" with the date.
Fill from a clean tap using a hose or container you keep only for drinking water, so nothing from yard or chemical use reaches the barrel.
Getting water out: wrench and a dedicated pump
Barrels seal with threaded bungs. Augason Farms' 55-gallon kit includes a bung wrench to open and seal the caps and a siphon pump to draw water without tipping the barrel. If you buy pieces separately:
- Bung wrench: choose one that fits the 2 in and 3/4 in caps on your barrel.
- Pump: TERA PUMP's TRDRUM20 is a manual piston pump with a built-in 2 in bung adapter, a 34.4 in suction tube and a 5.5 gallons-per-minute rating, enough to fill a 5-gallon jug in under a minute. It is BPA-free and listed for drinking water.
That same pump is also rated for gasoline, kerosene and chemicals. Keep a pump for drinking water only, label it, and never put it in a fuel drum. CDC also says to use a clean scoop or device each time and not to touch the water.
Rotation: 6 months, whatever the label says
CDC's guidance for water you store yourself is to replace it every six months. Some products promise more: Augason Farms says its H2O ResQ treatment keeps stored water fresh for five years or more. Those are maker claims about their own product, and CDC's 6-month replacement for self-filled water is the safer schedule to follow. Set a reminder, drain the old water, sanitize and refill.
If you collect rainwater instead, that is a different job; see our rain barrel guides.
What to look for when you buy
Barrel example: Augason Farms 55-gallon water storage barrel
Best for: A single-container 2-week reserve for up to four people
Augason Farms pairs its 55-gallon barrel with a bung wrench, siphon pump and treatment drops in its own kit; the barrel alone is available on Amazon.
Watch out: About 458 lb of water when full; Augason's full kit is pickup-only from Salt Lake City, so buy the wrench and pump separately.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Drinking-water pump example: TERA PUMP TRDRUM20
Best for: Drawing water from a 55-gallon drum without tipping it
TERA PUMP lists a manual piston pump with a 2 in bung adapter, 34.4 in suction tube, 47.2 in discharge hose, 5.5 gallons per minute and BPA-free parts for drinking water.
Watch out: The same model is rated for fuels and chemicals; dedicate yours to drinking water only. Not for hot water.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Opening tool: universal drum bung wrench
Best for: Opening and resealing the 2 in and 3/4 in barrel caps
Augason Farms includes a bung wrench in its barrel kit to open and seal the barrel's caps.
Watch out: Match the wrench to both bung sizes on your barrel; keep it with the barrel.
See options on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)Questions people ask
- How many gallons are in a water barrel?
- The standard drinking-water barrel holds 55 gallons, enough for one person for 55 days or four people for about 14 days at CDC's 1 gallon per person per day.
- How heavy is a full 55 gallon water barrel?
- About 458 lb of water, using USGS's 8.33 pounds per gallon, plus the barrel.
- How often should I change water in a barrel?
- CDC says to replace self-filled stored water every 6 months, even if a treatment product claims longer.
- How do I get water out of a 55 gallon barrel?
- Open the bung with a drum wrench and use a hand pump kept only for drinking water, such as a BPA-free siphon pump.
Sources
- How to create an emergency water supply, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Facts about water, U.S. Geological Survey
- 55 gallon water storage and treatment kit, Augason Farms
- TRDRUM20 drum barrel pump, BPA-free, TERA PUMP